Feb 28, 2009

Italian wedding favors - not just for big, Italian-themed weddings! These mini oil and vinegar sets are a rare find that&any guest would love. They come in a classic variety of Italian oil and vinegar flavors (described below). The extra virgin olive oil used is made from Kalamata olives and are imported from Greece and the Aged Balsamic Vinegar is imported from Modena, Italy.

Aged Balsamic Vinegar – Unlike ordinary vinegar, which has its origins in an alcoholic liquid, balsamic vinegar is produced directly from grape juice. This is one of the finest balsamic vinegars available on the market to date. As the balsamic ages, the flavor develops and intensifies similar to a fine red wine.

Balsoli Dipping Oil & Vinaigrette – Infused with the flavors of rosemary, chili and bay leaves, this olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar combination is a match made in heaven.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Extra Virgin Olive oil is derived from the first cold pressing of olives without refining. Its superior quality is based on a less than one percent acidity level. These olives are pressed within 48 hours of harvest, which yields a rich, fruity flavored olive oil with an intense aroma and deep green color.

Oreganato – Extra virgin olive oil infused with a variety of special flavors such as oregano, bay leaf, peppercorns, and dried tomato creates this great tasting and beautiful combination.

Feb 25, 2009

Sunflower wedding favors - why not cookies you lovingly prepared weeks or months in advance? Freeze your pre-baked cookies (completely cooled) by placing them in single layers separated by sheets of waxed paper. Make sure your container is airtight. Here is an easy to follow tutorial of how to make sunflower cookies. After baking or thawing out your sunflower cookies, it will take you two days to complete - one for flooding (covering the entire cookie with a thin coat of royal icing), and the second day for piping the edges of the petals and the little green dots. No need to be intimated by royal icing. With Wilton's Meringue Powder (available on Amazon or at Walmart) you don't have to mess around with egg whites. Only three ingredients - confectioners' sugar, meringue and a little bit of warm water - for professional cookie decorating results.

Feb 18, 2009

Mehndi bridal tattoos - involve the delicate decoration of an Indian bride's hands and feet - in many cultures on both the front and back of the hands and right up to the elbow (similar to gloves), and on the bottom half of the legs. It's an Indian wedding tradition that has been a well-loved practice in many Arab countries for over five thousand years. Often the most anticipated pre-wedding celebration for all the women closest to the bride. Natural henna leaves are dried up to make a paste which is applied to the skin, thought to guarantee health, good luck and plenty of babies. A henna bridal design should last between 1 and 4 weeks, depending on contact with soap and water.

Feb 16, 2009

Barcelona Bridal Week - book my ticket I'm ready to go. This stunning annual event which includes the Novia España International Show and also the Gaudí Novias Catwalk, encourages almost 20,000 wedding professionals from over sixty countries every year to witness the best and most breathtaking the bridal industry has to offer. The two events combine to make Barcelona a major international player and presenter of unforgettable wedding dresses to come. Many designers you may not know (Galia Lahav, Immaculata Garcia, and Jesus Peiro) bring their classic and avant garde collections to this exciting six week event each spring.

Feb 12, 2009

Red wedding cakes - what makes them so special? Red is passion. Red is seduction. And believe me when I tell you that sneaking a little bit of red into the celebration will actually have a physical affect on your wedding guests. It's true. Studies have shown that the color red gets people excited, their hearts beat a little faster, and blood pressure goes up - just a smidge. More pumped up people on the dance floor - more living the dream on this perfect day.

Feb 10, 2009

Soap wedding favors - something as charming as one of these would be a very welcome little thank you gift. It's true coasters, candles and bottle openers have their purpose too. But they won't make my skin smooth and silky and help me forget about the cares of the day. I confess to spending way too much time lounging around in my oversized tub way beyond what I need to stay dirt free. And to make matters worse, I have naturally dry skin. A rustic bar of homemade soap wrapped in burlap with sprigs of fragrant lavender - it's something I would be thankful for and enjoy. A great DIY wedding favor idea. Here's how to make these lovely lavender honey lemon soaps.

Feb 9, 2009

Sexy wedding gowns with strapless, see-through corsets. Time for me to get married again. Who do I have to thank for these breathtakingly beautiful corset bridal gowns? Bridal designer Demetrios James Elias, born in Greece, was brought to this country as a small boy. Working in the family-owned bridal store, he worked hard and fell in love with the idea of designing shimmering ball gowns with richly beaded bodices. And so he did, and eventually between an international superstar. His clients - who can find his dresses at Macy's and other independent bridal salons across America - love the luxurious fabrics and delicately beaded embellishments he provides at an affordable price.